Saul became Paul his heritage, citizenship, language, religion and name change

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Johnny_B

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2017
1,954
64
48
#1
I started this because someone asked about this and by the time I put it all together, I could not find the thread so whoever was asking my hope is that this helps you with what you were looking for. Here the Scriptures on Paul's heritage, pre-covertion religion, native tongue, his name change and he was born a Roman citizen.

Saul to Paul after this he was not called Saul again, he was known as Paul. Acts 13:4-12
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.


Paul's heritage he is all Hebrew.
II Corinthains 11:22 “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.

Paul as Hebrew of Hebrews heritage and pre-convertion religion. Philippians 3:3-11 “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

In Paul's native tongue, his first language Hebrew. Acts 26:12-14 In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’”

Paul is born a citizen of Roman. Acts 22:22-29 “Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.”

 

Kavik

Senior Member
Mar 25, 2017
793
158
43
#2
Saul/Paul was a Hellenized Jew from Tarsus (a land within the Western Diaspora) - his native language (along with everyone else from Tarsus) would have been Greek. Being a Jew, he would have also known Hebrew.

Hebrew is the sacerdotal language of Judaism; when God speaks, it's in Hebrew only, never Aramaic or Greek.

That Saul/Paul was a Roman citizen does not mean he ever had to learn Latin, but it's possible during his travels he did learn some. His citizenship only bought him certain rights and privileges under Roman Law as can be seen in the passage from Acts quoted above.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#3
I thought he was adopted into a Roman family?

But either way, yes he was a Roman citizen.

He was Jewish Pharisee who studied under G.....can't spell it but apparently a very respected rabbi
 
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Enoch987

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2017
317
15
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#4
Saul is pronounced Sah-OOL by modern Israelis. The gentile Paul does not rhyme so for Paul, it was a break with his past.
 
Mar 23, 2016
6,857
1,646
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#5
I thought he was adopted into a Roman family?

But either way, yes he was a Roman citizen.

He was Jewish Pharisee who studied under G.....can't spell it but apparently a very respected rabbi
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city [Jerusalem - see Acts 21:17] at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel. According to Acts 5:34, Gamaliel was a doctor of the law and was held in high esteem by the people.

At the time Paul spoke in Acts 22 he was in Jerusalem. So according to vs. 3, Paul was a Jew, born in Tarsus and brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel.

 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,707
3,650
113
#6
Saul is pronounced Sah-OOL by modern Israelis. The gentile Paul does not rhyme so for Paul, it was a break with his past.
Gentile Paul?

Romans 9:3-5 NASBS
[3] For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, [4] who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, [5] whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

...or did you mean 'gentle' Paul? lol